Scott Frank & Chandni Lakhani (creators), Jussi Adler-OIsen (novels)

CAST

Matthew Goode
Chloe Pirrie
Alexej Manvelov
Leah Byrne
Kate Dickie

Review

I went into the Dept. Q pilot, suspecting that they were adapting The Keeper of Lost Causes – the first in Jussi Adler-Olsen’s dark and twisty book series – based on the trailer I saw, but I didn’t expect it to be this faithful and this fresh.

Right from the opening bodycam footage, I knew that this wasn’t a loose “inspired by” situation. They’re going for something close to the source, and as a longtime fan of the books and the original Danish adaptations (yes, shoutout to Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares), I was instantly dialed in.

Instead of Denmark, we’re in Scotland, and weirdly? It works. That Scottish accent gives the show a sharp edge, and the moody Edinburgh vibes slide right into place like it’s always belonged in Nordic noir territory.

Let’s talk Carl & Assad…I mean Akram. Matthew Goode as Carl Morck? Grumpy, brooding, damaged, and kind of perfect. He plays Carl with the right balance of cold detachment and a hint of “I’m barely holding it together” guilt. And Alexej Manvelov as Akram is already a highlight. He’s got charm, mystery, and…yeah, I’ll say it, he looks really good doing it. (Let’s not pretend that doesn’t count.), So he and Matthew are a nice pair of detectives to look at.

One of the smartest decisions in this pilot? The way they handle Merritt Lingard’s storyline. You don’t even realize it’s a flashback until the final minutes, and that little twist completely recontextualizes everything. If you’re unfamiliar with the books, it might even catch you completely off guard in the best way, and I love that for them.

And despite having read the novel and seen the Danish version, I was hooked. They’ve managed to keep it compelling for existing fans while building a tense, atmospheric mystery for new viewers.

Is it reinventing the genre? No. But is it a gripping, moody, beautifully shot detective series with real potential? Absolutely.

Book readers, Nordic noir fans, and Netflix crime junkies, this one’s for you.

The first case may be cold, but this pilot is hot. I’m in.

If you’re interested in the source material, help us by getting them from the links below: